The Sharks XV will play a curtain raiser match against the Bulls Vodacom Cup team in preparation for the upcoming Vodacom Cup, starting in a few weeks time. This match will be played at Loftus and will kick off just before 5pm tomorrow night.

The team to face the Bulls has been announced, and will be feature a host of players that were involved in the trial and preseason friendlies for the Super squad. The pack includes Monde Hadebe, who will captain the side, along with Mienie and Schonert in the front row, with the much spoken about Pieter-Steph du Toit shifting back to his preferred position of tight lock. He will partner Jandre Marais in the second row.

The loose trio of Kleinhans, Stander and Mthembu really excites me, as both Kleinhans and Mthembu has been in and around the Sharks setup for a while, and it will be interesting to see what they do. Stander, from what I have heard and the little I have seen, is a great talent which we will hear plenty more about.

The halfbacks are Cobus Reinach and Fred Zeilinga, both of which are small players, but what they lack in size they make up in talent. Look out for these two! The centre combination of Heimar Williams and Wandile Mjekevu should be interesting, with Williams’ normal centre partner Piet Lindeque sitting on the bench. The back three of Specman, Sithole and Prinsloo have lost of pace amongst them, and again, is an exciting trio to look out for.

Just so you all know,this match will feature 3 Queenians who are all former QC 1st XV captains, Sharks no.14 Sbura Sithole and reserve prop no.17 Allan Dell while the Bulls will feature at no.12 Lionel Cronje who is also the vice-captain of the Bulls side

Comment 6, posted at 23.02.12 15:06:12 by Ludz

@Ludz (Comment 6) : Why don’t you do a Muzi special and post the Bulls team here on this thread

Comment 7, posted at 23.02.12 15:09:35 by beet

Interesting to see PSdT at 4 and Jandre at 5. Thought things might have been the other way around. Also good to see Peet Marais back. He missed the Sharks SR trials, which was a bit of a surprise.

Also well done to Brynard Stander. With the challenge of Brendon Groenewald, I thought he might lose out.

Mjekewu over Lindeque says something. And Kleinhans ahead of Cloete.

I hope Heimar has a big one and silences that critic from the Pukke campus

Mjekevu at 13????
You must be joking…he was less than terrible in defense and is No1 weakness was his lack of physicality…those are important aspects especially in you playing centre….

Has he picked up 15 kg and a heart or something in the last 2 years?

Comment 22, posted at 24.02.12 15:53:10 by Hmmm

Sithole should be in the S15 squad ahead of Ludick…

Comment 23, posted at 24.02.12 15:59:46 by Hmmm

@Hmmm (Comment 23) : Ludik is ahead of Sithole to counter the Bulls’ kicking game, which I feel was a brilliant move by Plum, picking the team to counter the opposition, not just choosing the regulars and pray they get it right

Comment 24, posted at 24.02.12 16:20:12 by Die Kriek

Good to see 3 Glenwood Old Boys there, Fran Kleyheins, Kyle Cooper and Fred Zeilanga! Go Green! When Kyle is fully fit again I think he should be ahead of Burden in the pecking order. Sam Torrace, Glenwood 1st team 2010 now playing Scotland Under20′s, well done!

Comment 25, posted at 25.02.12 11:50:56 by Grasshopper

So what was this result?

Comment 26, posted at 25.02.12 11:53:31 by JarsonX

@Grasshopper (Comment 25) : Golf is having too much of an influence around here

The other day I said David Horwill instead of James. Today’s your turn.